Friends Don't Let Friends Work for ESS /Sources4Teachers - Certified Substitute Teacher ESS Employee Review

1.0
Apr 30, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You can work or not work as you choose

Cons

Pay goes down every year. $85-$100 per day, or less. No holiday or sick day pay. No pension. Your job could be cancelled without notice. Will not lead to a direct-hire teaching job at the school - those jobs go to family and friends of the teachers and board of education members. Can be fired at any time for any reason. No union to back you up. Students can go home and say the most crazy stuff about you and will be believed before you will. Poor health insurance coverage. Sources4Teachers/ESS was formed just to break up the teachers' unions. Instead what happened is most schools to save money (to pay for ever increasing teacher salaries) have outsourced their substitute teachers, paraprofessionals (who work harder than most teachers in my view with no prep time), custodians and bus drivers.

Explore other reviews about ESS

5.0
May 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pick your own schedule and flexible

Cons

Work less need more time making money

4.0
Jun 17, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The corporate support and recruitment team are excellent; they are professional and highly responsive. The onboarding and training process was comprehensive and genuinely prepared me for the realities of substitute teaching. The role offers a great deal of flexibility, opportunities to engage with the local population, and a clear pipeline for those seeking long-term subbing positions or a path toward a full-time teaching career. It is an excellent environment for networking within the education sector.

Cons

The day-to-day experience is heavily dependent on the specific district and school culture, which can vary significantly. Some districts provide free lunch, others don’t. Unfortunately, there is often a lack of respect at the school level; substitute staff are sometimes treated as expendable rather than as valued members of the team. There is a lack of job security, as pre-booked assignments are frequently canceled on short notice to accommodate other preferred substitutes. Subs have to work 4 days a month and it’s hard to meet when people are constantly being dropped from jobs. Additionally, the compensation is extremely low, and the benefits package is insufficient, making it difficult to rely on this position as a primary source of income.

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